It’s a shame.
It really is a shame when one team has dominated a division for over a decade, and the one time they’re legitimately vulnerable, there’s NOBODY there to take advantage of it. That is the situation currently taking place within the AFC East.
Basically, it’s been the New England Patriots’ birthright to win this division, having claimed the crown 10 of the last 12 years (which should be 11 had Tom Brady not injured his knee in 2008). However since losing to the Baltimore Ravens in last year’s AFC Championship game, the Pats have endured a horrific set of events. Injuries (Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Wilson, Danny Amendola…he’s healthy now, just give it a few weeks), the loss of key free agents (Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Danny Woodhead), the Tim Tebow three-ring circus and the Aaron Hernandez catastrophe have marred their offseason and preseason. The amount of distractions they’ve dealt with this summer probably took years of Bill Belichick’s life, a man who by many accounts is a massive control freak.
But they still have Brady. And Belichick. And an emerging and perhaps an underrated defense featuring youngsters Dont’a Hightower and Chandler Jones, and several playmaking veterans including captain Vince Wilfork, Rob Ninkovich, Aqib Talib, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes. They also still have the most dynamic tight end in football in Gronkowski, who was not placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (or PUP) list, meaning The Gronker could be back sometime during September.
The AFC East takes on the NFC South this season, which should be an intriguing slate of games…for the Patriots. The Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets? That’s anybody’s guess.
The Dolphins may have lost Reggie Bush and former #1 overall pick Jake Long to free agency, but they made several additions to offset their departures. The acquisitions of cornerback Brent Grimes and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe — along with trading up to #3 in the draft to select pass rusher Dion Jordan — should only serve to benefit an already solid “bend-but-don’t-break” defense in Miami. The Phins finished 21st in fewest yards allowed, but impressively ranked 7th in points allowed in 2012. Miami also persuaded burner Mike Wallace to leave Pittsburgh to catch passes on South Beach from Ryan Tannehill. Wallace hasn’t really proven he can run all the necessary routes to be an elite receiver, but he sure is getting paid like one (five years, $60 million). If Miami can see some progression from Tannehill and speedster Lamar Miller out of the backfield, they will continue to head in the right direction.
The same cannot be said for the Bills and Jets right now. Both teams were looking to slowly transition from a guy who couldn’t hack it in the NFL as a starting quarterback to a rookie that could take over the job once he became acclimated to the pro game, perhaps halfway through the season. Both teams had to expedite that process after their veterans failed to inspire any confidence in the coaching staff due to their lackluster preseason performances. Then both veterans went down with injuries— New York’s Mark Sanchez hurt his shoulder after coach Rex Ryan ridiculously put him back in during the fourth quarter of a MEANINGLESS preseason game in the name of “winning”, while Buffalo’s Kevin Kolb may never play pro football again after suffering another concussion.
Now Ryan, and Bills first-year coach Doug Marrone are both in a bind because their rookies tabbed to take over are in no condition to play. Bills QB E.J. Manuel is coming off preseason knee surgery and Jets QB Geno Smith is coming off sucking repeatedly (pause). Luckily for Marrone, his team can fall back on the electrifying C.J. Spiller, who is talented enough to drag the Bills to a couple of wins until Manuel gets right. The Jets, however, have no such player. The Jets don’t even have anybody worth owning in fantasy football, let alone real football. It’s caused Rex Ryan to pretty much lose his team, and his mind (there is a theory floating around about that).
As a franchise, the Jets quickly approaching Yakety Sax territory (just play that song and watch this gif to get the full effect).
The future of the New York Jets
AFC East Champions: New England Patriots
With two of the remaining three teams starting rookie QBs (one with a rookie head coach, the other with a head coach who may not survive the season— my money says he won’t), and the third team starting a second-year QB (with a second-year head coach: Joe Philbin), the Pats are head and shoulders above every other team in the East and it’s not close. The question is, which of these remaining squads can take advantage of the other two weaker teams in the division? The team that does this (maybe Miami sweeps the Bills & Jets, for example) would only have to scrape together four more victories to be in the wild card conversation.
A second team from the AFC East in the playoff hunt? That’s pretty scary, but it’s possible.
Meanwhile, the Patriots keep plugging along and, despite the offseason from HELL, are in prime position to sail to another AFC East crown. However New England’s dominance far exceeds divisional lines— the Pats are STILL the litmus test for all other teams in the NFL.
There is no other group that opposing teams get more amp’d up to play against than the Patriots. No quarterback that defensive linemen would rather sack than Brady. No coach that opposing coaches would rather outwit than Belichick. Oh, the Ravens, Giants, Packers and Saints all won Super Bowls more recently? Doesn’t matter. You’re saying Bob Kraft hasn’t lifted the Lombardi Trophy since February 6, 2005? Doesn’t matter. The Patriots get every team’s best shot every Sunday and it is still considered an event when they lose. It’s a testament to the Kraft, Belichick and Brady triumvirate. And with all the changes this franchise has undergone, they will still contend for yet another AFC Championship.
Yep, we’ve seen this movie before.